Under a co-operation agreement, CFCL and HC Starck will collaborate to develop advanced SOFC components, in particular anode supported cells. CFCL is prepared to license its relevant IP in order to optimize the performance of the cell. H.C. Starck will collaborate to continually improve manufacturing processes and reduce unit costs.

Under a supply agreement, H.C. Starck will supply fuel cells at agreed prices until December 2011, securing long term costs for CFCL. Supply of the fuel cells is expected to commence in mid 2008, with further increases in forecast volumes, and reductions in unit prices, from 2009.

H.C. Starck has recently commissioned two lines for manufacturing solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), specifically for Anode Supported Cells and for Electrolyte Supported Cells, with an annual capacity of about 700,000 cells each. The SOFC manufacturing lines are located at its subsidiary company H.C. Starck Ceramics in Selb, Germany. H.C. Starck’s world class manufacturing facility is dedicated and fully equipped to produce high quality anode supported fuel cells in accordance with CFCL’s rigorous  pecifications. H.C. Starck’s manufacturing processes are certified to ISO standards 9001 and 14000.

As part of CFCL’s commercialisation strategy the partnership will combine CFCL’s and H.C. Starck’s expertise in SOFC as well as H.C. Starck’s manufacturing capabilities, securing the supply chain for mass manufacture of high quality cells at commercially viable unit costs.

CFCL will continue to produce fuel cells at its Melbourne R&D and pilot manufacturing facility, leveraging its 15 years of development expertise to drive continued improvements in cell performance.

This cooperation is non-exclusive for both parties. CFCL is reviewing similar opportunities with other suppliers throughout Europe.

Commenting, Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells, said:
“We are delighted to have secured our supply chain for basic fuel cell components with a global leader in advanced ceramic production. This announcement represents a significant step in fuel cell commercialisation. We have combined our valuable intellectual property – developed since 1992 - with H.C. Starck’s manufacturing facilities in order to quickly move to volume production, with the same level of quality, at a lower cost and lower risk. ”

Commenting, Aloys Eiling, Managing Director of H.C. Starck Ceramics, said:
“The partnership with CFCL, a major world wide SOFC player, is an excellent fit for our strategy to become the world leading supplier of SOFC cell technology. The collaboration enables us to bundle our strengths and further develop our cell technology and optimize manufacturing processes to CFCL’s advanced technical and commercial requirements. Through the supply agreement we will utilise our existing SOFC manufacturing facilities and invest in additional equipment to further expand our capacity to supply the growing market for solid oxide fuel cells. We are excited about the agreement and consider this to be the next important step towards maturity of the solid oxide fuel cell technology.”

Managing Director Brendan Dow discusses the agreement with HC Starck on a Boardroomradio webcast – click here .